State announces deep cuts to water exports from the Delta

Friday

Jan 31, 2014 at 2:08 PMJan 31, 2014 at 2:08 PM

Water exports from the Delta will drop to levels necessary only to meet health and human safety, and the amount of water allowed to flow through the estuary toward the ocean will also decline to levels lower than legal water quality standards, in drastic actions announced today.

The Record

Water exports from the Delta will drop to levels necessary only to meet health and human safety, and the amount of water allowed to flow through the estuary toward the ocean will also decline to levels lower than legal water quality standards, in drastic actions announced today.

In addition, 5,800 water users scattered throughout the Central Valley -- most of them farmers -- will soon be notified that they are no longer allowed to take water.

Those with more senior water rights, which would include many farmers who se properties abut channels in the Delta, could be next if conditions don't improve.

The emergency actions are intended to help keep at least some water in our dwindling reservoirs, in case the drought persists.

For the first time since the state and federal water projects were built, both projects are expected receive zero water from the Delta. That would be a blow for south San Joaquin Valley farmers, and for cities from the Bay Area to San Diego. Stockton has its own right to divert Delta water and would not be immediately affected by today's news.

"Failing to take this action could result in our reservoirs running out of water later this year," said Mark Cowin, director of the state Department of Water Resources. "Everyone needs to pitch in to help us through this crisis."

Read Saturday's Record for more on this story by staff writer Alex Breitler.